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Chapter 6 Mobile, Wireless & Pervasive Computing

Mobile computing Characteristics and attributes Drivers of mobile computing Technologies that support mobile computing Wireless standards & transmission networks Major inhibitors and barriers

M-commerce Any EC activities performed in a wireless environment Applications

financial and other services, advertising, and providing of content within organizations B2B and supply chain applications Consumer and personal applications Non-Internet m-commerce applications

Location-based commerce (l-commerce) Pervasive computing

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Case – NEXTBUS: A super customer service

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Mobile Computing

Mobile Computing To make computers small enough so they can be easily carried

- Mobile devices To replace wires with wireless communication media Wireless mobile computing

a combination of the first two, namely to use mobile devices in a wireless environment

this combination enables real-time connections between mobile devices and other computing environments

Ubiquitous Computing – Computing anytime anywhere

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Mobile Computing - Terminology

Personal digital assistant (PDA) - A small portable computer, such as Palm handhelds and Pocket PC devices

Short Message Service (SMS) - A technology, in existence since 1991, that allows sending short text messages

Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) - An extension of SMS that is capable of simple animation, tiny pictures, and short melodies

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) - The next generation of wireless messaging, this technology will be able to deliver rich media

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) - A technology that offers Internet browsing from wireless devices

Smartphones - Internet-enabled cell phones that can support mobile applications

Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) - Refers to a standard 802.11b which most of the wireless LAN are based on

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Mobile Computing – Characteristics

Major characteristics Mobility

implies portability based on the fact that users carry a mobile device everywhere they go => a real-time contact

Broad reach - reached at any time that describes the accessibility of people

break the barriers of geography and time

Ubiquitous ComputingConstant connectivity

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Mobile Computing – Attributes

Value-added attributes Ubiquity - refers to the attribute of being available at any location at

any given time A mobile terminal in the form of a smartphone or a PDA offers ubiquity.

Convenience It is very convenient for users to operate in the wireless environment. All they need is an Internet enabled mobile device such as a smartphone.

Instant connectivity Mobile devices enable users to connect easily and quickly to the Internet,

intranets, other mobile devices and databases.

Personalization - refers to customizing the information for individual consumers

Localization of products and services Knowing the users physically location at any particular moment is key to

offering relevant products and services.

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Mobile Computing – Drivers Widespread availability of mobile devices

The number of cell phones exceeds 1.3 billion

No need for a PC The Internet can be accessed via smartphone or other Internet-

enabled wireless devices. The handset culture - the widespread use of cell phones

Vendors are pushing m-commerce Both mobile communication network operators and manufacturers

of mobile devices. Declining prices and increased functionalities Improvement of bandwidth

To properly conduct m-commerce, it is necessary to have sufficient bandwidth.

3G (third-generation) technology provides the necessary bandwidth, at a data rate of up to 2 Mbps.

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M-Commerce Value Chain M-commerce - a complex process involving a number of operations

and entities (customers, merchants, mobile operators, etc.).

Link Function Provider

Transport Maintenance and operation of the infrastructure supporting data communication between mobile users and application providers

Technology platform vendors

Enabling services Server hosting, data backup, and system integration

Infrastructure equipment vendors

Transaction support Mechanisms for assisting with transactions, security, and billing

Application platform vendor

Presentation services

Conversion of content of Internet-based applications to applications suitable for mobile devices

Application developer

Personalization support

Gathering of users’ preferences, information, and devices in order to provide individualized applications

Content developer

User applications General and specialized applications for mobile users

Mobile service provider

Content aggregators Design and operation of portals that offer categorized information and search facilities

Mobile portal provider

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Mobile Computing Infrastructure – Hardware Major mobile computing devices used in m-commerce

Cellular phones/Smartphones Attachable keyboard - A larger keyboard attachment Personal digital assistants (PDAs) with Internet access Interactive pagers - two-way pagers with limited mobile computing and m-

commerce activities on the Internet Screenphones - equipped with a color screen, a keyboard, e-mail service and

Internet capabilities E-mail handhelds - integrated device including a keypad, e-mail service and

Internet capabilities, without the need to dial into an Internet provider for access M-commerce also requires the following hardware which is

essential for wireless connectivity A WAN modem A wireless LAN or MAN (metro-area network) adapter A Web server with wireless support A WAP gateway A communications server An application or database server An enterprise application server. A GPS locator

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Mobile Computing Infrastructure – Software

Software Description

Microbrowser A browser with limited bandwidth and memory requirements. Provides wireless access to the Internet

Operating system (OS) for mobile-client

An OS for mobile devices. Examples: Palm OS, Pocket PC, Win CE. Specialized OS’s: Blackberry and Web browser.

Bluetooth (named for a Viking king)

Chip technology for short-range communication among wireless devices. See bluethooth.com.

User interface Application logic for handheld devices.

Application middleware Provides connecting among applications, databases, and Web-based servers.

Wireless middleware Links wireless networks to application servers.

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)

A set of communication protocols that enables wireless devices to “talk” to a server on a mobile network, so users can access the Internet. Specially designed for small screen.

Wireless Markup Language

An XML-based scripting language for creating content for wireless systems.

Voice XML An extension of XML designed to accommodate voice.

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Mobile networks - WWAN Wireless wide area networks (WWAN)

WWAN communication systems 1G - an analog-based technology (from 1979 to 1992) 2G - based on digital radio technology and mainly accommodates text 2.5G - An interim technology based on GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and

EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evaluation) that can accommodate limited graphics

3G - supports rich media such as video clips (2001 in Japan & Europe in 2002 and the United States in 2003)

4G - provide faster display of multimedia (expected between 2006 and 2010) Communication protocols

Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) Used by 1G systems, this protocol gives each user a different frequency to

communicate on. Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)

Used with some of the more popular 2G systems, this protocol assigns different users different time slots on a given communications channel.

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) Used with most 2.5G and 3G systems, this protocol separates different users by

assigning different codes to the segments of each user’s communications.

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Mobile System Architecture

MobilePhone

(terminal)

MobilePhone

Communication Tower

Base StationController

(BSC)

Mobile Switching

Station(MSC)

FixedTelephone

Infrastructure

Mobile Network

Mobile Network

Wireless transmission

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Mobile networks - WLAN Wireless local area networks (WLAN) - like a wired LAN but

without the cables transmitting and receiving data over the airwaves Wireless access point

a transmitter with an antenna, connected to a wired LAN that provides an Internet connection

provide service to a number of users within a small geographical perimeter known as a “hot spot”

wireless network card incorporated with laptops, desktops, or PDAs Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) standard developed by the IEEE

Standards 802.11b Speeds up to 11Mbps 802.11a and 802.11g Speeds up to 54 Mbps

Benefits - Lower cost and its ability to provide simple Internet access Factors - Cost & Security Wireless Encryption Protocol (WEP)

a built-in security system in Wi-Fi encrypts the communications between a client machine and a wireless access point

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Mobile Applications – Financial Services Mobile banking - offer mobile access to financial and account

information Wireless payments - provides mobile phones with a secure

purchasing tools capable of instantly authorizing payments Micropayments – e-payments for small-purchase amounts

(generally less than $10) Wireless wallets – SW (e-wallet) that stores an online

shopper’s credit card numbers and other personal information Bill payment services - Paying bills directly from a mobile

device Brokerage services - stock trades and quotes

Money transfers - from one account to another

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Mobile Applications – Shopping, Advertising & Content-providing Shopping

Shopping from wireless devices enables customers to perform quick searches, compare prices, use a shopping cart, order, and view the status of their order using their mobile wireless devices.

Some shopping applications Restaurant chains enabling consumers to place an order for pick up or delivery

virtually any time, anywhere. eBay offers “anywhere wireless” services as does Amazon.com Purchasing movie tickets by wireless device

Advertising Location-sensitive advertising

Knowing the current location of mobile users (using GPS) and their preferences or surfing habits, marketers can send user-specific advertising messages to wireless devices.

Informing a user about: sales at a specific shop or mall, today’s specials at a restaurant, loyalty programs, and

much moreall when a potential buyer is within close proximity.

The most promising avenues of success for wireless advertising will incorporate it with other advertising media, Web sites or physical locations.

Mobile Portals - customer channels, optimized for mobility, that aggregates and provides content and services to mobile users

The services: news, sports, e-mail, entertainment, travel information, restaurants, event information, leisure-related services, community services & stock trading

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Mobile Enterprise Applications Enterprise Applications

Support of Mobile Workers - service technician’s, sales personnel, delivery workers, etc.

Wearable Devices Employees may be equipped with a special form of mobile wireless computing

devices Camera, Screen, Keyboard/Touch-panel display &Speech translator

Job Dispatch - to assign jobs to mobile employees, along with info about the task transportation (delivery of food, oil, newspapers, cargo, courier services) Utilities measurement (gas, electricity, phone, water) Field service (computer, office equipment, home repair) Health care (visiting nurses, doctors, social services) Security (patrols, alarm installation).

Supporting Other Types of Work. Tractors Mystery shoppers Collaboration

Wireless Intrabusiness Applications Wireless networking - used to pick items out of storage in warehouses via PCs

mounted on forklifts Delivery-status updates - entered on PCs inside distribution trucks Collection of data such as competitors’ inventories and prices in stores using a

handheld (but not networked) device Taking physical inventories

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Mobile B2B

Mobile computing solutions (B2B &SCM) enable organizations to respond faster to disruptions by shifting resources related to critical events as they occur.

The wireless environment has enhanced these c-commerce transactions.

By integrating the mobile device into the supply chain, it is possible to make mobile reservations of goods check availability of a particular item in the warehouse order a particular product provide security access to confidential financial data reduce clerical mistakes and improve operations

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Mobile B2C A large number of applications exist that support

consumers and provide personal services. B2C transactions Personalize Merchandise Notification Mobile games Hotels services Wireless telemedicine

storage of data and transferring of digital images from one location to another

videoconferencing used for “real-time” consultation between a patient in one location and a medical specialist in another.

Services News Weather Sports online language translation

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Example –Purchasing movie tickets with WAP

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Location-based Commerce (L-commerce)

L-commerce refers to the localization of products and services consumer’s viewpoint: l-commerce offers safety. business supplier’s point of view: l-commerce offers an

opportunity to provide services that meet customers’ needs 5 key areas

Location: determining the basic position of a person or a thing (e.g., car or boat)

Navigation: plotting a route from one location to another Tracking: monitoring the movement of a person or a thing

(e.g., a package or vehicle) Mapping: creating maps of specific geographical locations Timing: determining the precise time at a specific location

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L-Commerce Technologies Location-based and network technologies

Position Determining Equipment (PDE) identifies the location of the mobile device (GPS)

Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) a server that manages the location information sent from the PDE

Location-based technology consists of groups of servers that combine the position information

with geographic- and location-specific content to provide an l-commerce service

Geographic content consists of streets, road maps, addresses, routes, landmarks, land

usage, Zip codes, and the like (GIS) Location-specific content

used in conjunction with the geographic content to provide the location of particular services

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L-Commerce Applications

There are many applications related to Location Based Commerce: Location-based advertising.

The wireless device is detected, and similar to a pop-up ads on a PC, advertising is directed towards the PC.

A dynamic billboard ad will be personalized specifically for the occupant of an approaching car.

Ads on vehicles (taxicabs, trucks, buses) will change based on the vehicles location.

E-911 emergency cell phone calls Telematics and telemetry applications: integration of

computers and wireless communications in order to improve information flow (OnStar system by GM)

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Mobile Computing – L-Commerce Applications

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Pervasive Computing

Invisible Computing Everywhere A world in which virtually every object has processing power with

wireless or wired connections to a global network. The user doesn’t have to think about how to use the processing

power in the object; rather, the processing power automatically helps the user perform a task.

Examples RFID (radio frequency identification) tag attached to items for sale. Active badges worn as ID cards by employees. Memory buttons are nickel-sized devices that store information

relating to whatever it is attached to. Contextual computing

the process of understanding the user’s interactions within a valid context, to better understand what the consumer needs, and what products or services they might possibly be interested in at this time

Context awareness capturing a broad range of contextual attributes to better

understand those needs

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Applications of Pervasive Computing Smart homes

provide a local Intranet where appliances within the home communicate with each other and television, lighting, heating controls and home security are programmed and monitored by the system

Smart Cars have microprocessors controlling the radio, transmission,

remembering your seat position, adjusting the temperature, making the suspension work better, helping you see in the dark, and warning when tire pressure is low

In the shop, the onboard microprocessors are used to diagnose problems.

Smart “Things” Barcodes. Auto Identification (Auto-ID) RFID: used in wireless tollbooth systems, such as E-Z Pass

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Large-scale Pervasive Systems

Smart Schools Exploring communication between students, teachers, and the environment to

create a smart learning environment.

Intelligent Elder- Care Smart Offices Digital Cities

EmbeddedComputing

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Technical & other limitations of mobile computing

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MANAGERIAL ISSUES Comparing wireless to synchronized mobile devices.

In many cases, transmitting data in the evening, using a docking device, is sufficient. In others, real time communication is needed, justifying a wireless system.

Timetable. Although there has been much hype about m-commerce, only a small number of large-scale

mobile computing applications have been deployed to date. The most numerous applications are in e-banking, stock trading, emergency services, and

some B2B tasks. Companies still have time to carefully craft an m-commerce strategy. Setting applications priorities.

Finding and prioritizing applications is a part of an organization’s e-strategy. Although location-based advertising is logically attractive, its effectiveness may not be

known for several years. Therefore, companies should be very careful in committing resources to m-commerce.

For the near term, applications that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of mobile workers are likely to have the highest payoff.

Just a buzzword? In the short run, mobile computing, m-commerce, and especially l-commerce, may be just

buzzwords due to the many limitations they now face. However, in the long run, the concepts will be increasingly popular. Management should

monitor the technological developments and make plans accordingly. Choosing a system.

The multiplicity of standards, devices, and supporting hardware and software can confuse a company planning to implement mobile computing.

An unbiased consultant can be of great help. Checking the vendors and products carefully, as well as who is using them, is also critical.